Dan Antion

Not Quite Enemy Territory

Cheryl makes a pretty good Michelada
In honor of Barb

We’re back in the bar, where we’re going to try to work Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt into the conversation. For this week, she has given us:

“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘cheers.’ Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!”

Linda always wants us to enjoy, and since we are in a bar, that should be easy with this prompt.

If we were having a beer, you would be wondering about my recent trip.

“I thought I’d see you in here on Wednesday, the Pirates were playing the Mets.”

“I was in Baltimore.”

“As in Raven’s territory? Oriole’s territory?”

“Yes, but fortunately, it’s baseball season, and Pirate fans don’t care about the Orioles.”

“When the Pirates won on Wednesday, Dan, he said he’d buy you a beer.”

“Oooh, score! I’ll take a Corona, Cheryl.”

“Technically, I said ‘I should probably buy Dan a beer’ but I guess that’s close enough.”

“Well, the bottle’s open, so it must be. What are you drinking?”

“Meiomi, please.”

“Thanks Cheryl and thank you. But you’re not a Mets fan, why the beer?”

“Your Pirates stink. I thought you deserved a break.”

“I appreciate that.”

“How about the bar in Baltimore, or should I say bars? Better or worse?”

“Whoa whoa whoa – better or worse than what, mister?”

“No offense, Cheryl. I just like to check on the food and brews in other places. Of course, I didn’t mean to include bartenders.”

“The food was good. I had a couple nice local lagers, but the bartenders can’t compete.”

“Thank you, Dan.”

“Cheryl, I said I wasn’t including bartenders.”

“Yeah, yeah…”

“I think you need to bump her tip up today.”

“Why do I always insult her when I’m paying? So, when did you get back?”

“Thursday.”

“Did you take the train?”

“Oh yeah. AMTRAK regional down and the Vermonter back.”

“Are those part of the Hartford Line, now?”

“The regional is, but not the Vermonter.”

“What’s so special about the Vermonter?”

“Um, it goes to Vermont…”

“Yeah, so?”

“They can’t absorb additional passengers between New Haven and Springfield.”

“The other trains do.”

“The other trains travel between New Haven and Springfield, that’s their route.”

“Oh, I get it.”

“You boys want some food?”

“None for me Cheryl, I’m gonna grab some food at the Firemen’s carnival.”

“I would have thought you would have already done that, Dan.”

“I did, but I’m going back for the parade tonight and it’s hard not to snag a burger.”

“And chili fries?”

“I’m not allowed to eat chili fries, Cheryl.”

“I know, I was just busting on you.”

“No chili fries, is that doctor’s orders?”

“Wife’s”

“Oh, right, that’s what made you sick last year.”

“I don’t think there was anything wrong with the chili, it was more the combination of different foods.”

“So, one burger, one dog and one beer?”

“Maybe not even a beer. Depends on the selection.”

“Did someone say one bourbon, one scotch and one beer?”

“No, Cheryl, don’t get your top-shelf hopes up. On the other hand, you guys should add that song to your playlist.”

“Ugh, our playlist is driving me crazy.”

“It does seem to be looping a group of, what, eight songs?”

“It’s not that bad, but I can’t take the soft oldies. I need something to keep me awake.”

“Speaking of food, did you eat anything good in Baltimore?”

“I did. I had crab soup in a few different places.”

“You know my feelings on soup in the summer. Did you eat anything substantial that was good?”

“I had lunch at a Mediterranean place, they had a great salad and wonderful stuffed grape leaves.”

“Stuffed grape leaves? I’ve never heard of that.”

“Some people call them Dolmades.”

“Not my people.”

“Your people, wherever they come from, seem to call everything meat and potatoes.”

“You can’t go wrong with meat and potatoes. What are the grape leaves stuffed with?”

“Rice, pine nuts, onion. My grandmother would have added ground beef or lamb.”

“So, what are you saying, these were meatless?”

“These were, yes, but they were very good. Nice tender leaves and a nice blend of spices.”

“But no meat?”

“Everything doesn’t have to have meat in it.”

“Did you hear that Cheryl?

“I heard up through ‘a nice blend of spices’ and then I had to get some ice.”

“Mr. ‘I never met a chicken wing I didn’t like’ is telling me meals don’t have to have meat.”

“Wow! I mean, I agree in principal, but Dan???”

“Or potatoes…yesterday, I substituted sliced tomatoes for home fries with my breakfast.”

“No way…”

“…Get out of here.”

“I knew you wouldn’t believe me, so I took a picture.”

“Dan, I just have to ask one question.”

“Yes, Cheryl…”

“Do you want another Corona?”

“I do.”

“OK – this one’s on the house. If you had said no, I was ready to call the police.”

“Ha ha – for what?”

“It’s as if you’ve been abducted and replaced by an alien.”

“I would have backed her up. I’ll have another glass of wine, Cheryl.”

“Here you go guys. Both of these are on the house.”

“Thank you!”

“Cheers!”

I think Linda meant to add Bonus Point if we started or ended with the prompt. The photos in today’s gallery include some shots from Baltimore and other usual suspects. And, that song you have stuck in your head is below the gallery. Well, almost. The song you’re thinking of is by George Thorogood. The (more) original is by Amos Milburn, and the drinks are in a different order. Last but most, remember you can visit Cheryl at her place.

Sunrise over Baltimore.
Sunrise over Baltimore.
Do you see him?
There he is. Do you want this job?
“Yo, buddy. See Cheryl for much better wings than that.”
Crab soup. I gave myself away by ordering “Clam soup” and “Crab chowder”
Salad of greens, tomato and cucumber and stuffed grape leaves.
Flying Dog Numero Uno Blonde Ale – Brewed in Frederick, MD and quite good.
Afternoon snack at our meeting. The pretzel sticks were very good.
Duckpin Pale Ale – Locally brewed in Baltimore.
“Dad’s home. He’s been gone all week. He needs to rest.”
“I knew dad would want to sit as soon as he got home.”
Eggs, bacon, rye toast and tomato slices.
Heavy rains bring close-up opportunities.
We had almost 3″(7.62cm) of rain yesterday.
I did have some meat and potatoes – shepherd’s pie to be exact.

65 comments

    • Thanks Judy. Maddie is always happy when I get home. She snubs me a bit when I bring out a suitcase, but all is forgiven when I come home. We walked at 6:00 am. We sat last night, late, but I’m not sure how that will go today and tomorrow. She gets pretty hot out there.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  5. “Did someone say one bourbon, one scotch and one beer?”

    I LOL’d at this line, but I was thinking of the George Thorogood version. I’ve never heard the Amos Milburn version before. Learn something new every day…

    As for meatless meals, I grew up with them on Fridays during Lent. I always looked forward to macaroni and cheese and mom’s potato pancakes. During the summer, I’ll have a meal of garden tomatoes, corn on the cob and a variety of fruit…sans meat. Or a salad with olives, guacamole and lots of greens and veggies. Of course, beer is not meat, so I might also have one of those to wash down the non-meat meal. :-)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I was going to use the George Thorogood version, but the video I found was over 8 minutes long. It’s funny, when I wrote the line about the burger and dog, that song popped in my head. It’s SoCS, so…

      We have plenty of meatless meals in the summer, especially when veggies are fresh. I like them. I just have a reputation from all the other food pics I post. But you’re right, beer is not meat.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    • Thanks Joanne – they were very good. I actually went back a second time. The salad was also like I remembered my grandmother making. Just simple greens, cucumbers and tomatoes.

      Here’s to staying cool – cheers!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  7. OMG. That’s a real song! Ha. I did not know that. Sounds like that little jaunt would be a mini slice of heaven for you Dan, iced with a train ride. Cheers to the healthier food choices. Meanwhile, enjoy the carnival grub. It’s a holiday weekend after all. Boy , have you got me pegged. Lol

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thanks Cheryl – we’re working hard to beat the heat this weekend (95 today, 101 tomorrow) so I’ll be counting on the beer being cold at the bar. The trip was pretty good. I do like it when I can travel by train. So much less stressful than flying. Thanks for putting up with us, and thinks for the free beer today!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  9. I’m also wondering what’s up, Dan? I have always looked to you to be my surrogate eater. You know Taters and such. If you go healthy I don’t know what I’m going to do. Maybe you can run old pics of homefries once in a while. (No chili cheese fries? Damn)

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • I hadn’t heard it either. The George T version I found was 8 minutes long. I couldn’t do that to you guys. I listens to this and I really like it. Thanks!

      Like

      Reply

  16. Very entertaining conversation at the bar today Dan. All the food looks good enough to eat!!

    No, I would not want the window washers job! Me and heights don’t get along.

    Love the photo of Maddie sitting up on her cot, with her tongue out no less! The way she has her front legs positioned she looks so prim and proper. Lol. You nailed the shot of the yellow flowers covered in dew drops. Beautiful.

    Definitely won’t be feeling like winter for the next few days. Hope you and the Editor and the crew are comfortably cool in the AC. And if you happen to enjoy a beer later, or perhaps an ice tea, Cheers!
    🔹 Ginger 🔹

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thanks Ginger. I actually told Maddie to “sit pretty for your fans.”

      We went for our walk at 6:00am to best the heat. We might skip tomorrow. I mainly took the window washer photo for my wife. Also not a fan of heights.

      I will be at the bar today. I have to keep up on the research 😏

      Like

      Reply

  17. Ha! Right away I thought of “one bourbon, one scotch and one beer” too, but I only knew about the George Thorogood version. Cool that you included a pic of the 45. The food looks yummy. Have a good time at the carnival. LOL, take some Ranitidine. Hugs.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  18. Such great photos, Dan. You know, I have to wonder about people who clean windows in skyscrapers–I hope they are paid well, ’cause I would not do that job for any amount of money. One little breeze and I’d be screaming! George T came to town last year and I went to see him. He is a showman for sure! He was great! Maddie looks so cute sitting outside–not a care in world…cause dad’s home.

    Like

    Reply

  19. “Everything doesn’t have to have meat in it.” YES! to that, says the aspiring vegan in me. Spices and freshness are important for stuffed grape leaves. I’ve had some that were delicious and exotic and some that were meh. Glad you enjoyed them. :)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  20. Yes, I see him, but no thanks, I dont want his job. That is one of the scariest jobs I have ever seen. One time I climbed to the roof of a 12 storey building–only 12!–whose owner wanted solar water heating equipment installed up there, then I looked down and had a nightmare. Things started to spiral out of focus. I had to step away from the edge so fast. Hanging there with just a rope might surely kill me.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  22. The delicious crab soup looks good, the shepherd’s pie also looks great!
    I like a cup of soup no matter what time of year. I prefer salads with grilled shrimp or grilled chicken with the soup.
    Dan, when Randy and I went to the local Fathead’s restaurant, I had a different twist on the french onion soup with swiss or provolone cheese. It had leeks, onions in a buttery beer stout soup and had those soft croutons and covered with swiss cheese! Yum! I could tell there was a unique tang to the flavors but not that it was stout beer! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I enjoy soup, and I always try the local special variety. I haven’t had French Onion soup in several years. That sounds like a n interesting variety, I do like swiss cheese.

      The shepherd’s pie was pretty good, and very filling.

      Like

      Reply

  23. No, I wouldn’t want his job, but I would love access to the roof for the view, and photo ops.

    I had stuffed grape leaves on Saturday. They were small appetizer size but oh. so. good! These were meatless too.
    I love the Mediterranean chili sauce more than Sriracha sauce. I wish I could find it by the bottle everywhere.

    Like

    Reply

      • Did you ever make that chili sauce? Tahini sauce or the ingredients to make that I can find, but not that red chili sauce.

        I imagine making the stuffed grape leaves is labor intensive like stuffed cabbage leaves. I haven’t made those in ages. There’s an idea for He-Man’s upcoming birthday. 💡

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

Add your thoughts or join the discussion. One relevant link is OK, more require moderation. Markdown is supported.

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.